Get the Red Wine and Popcorn Ready

It’s a mixture of excitement and dread that fans of ABC’s powerhouse show, Scandal, wait for its seventh and final season. After six seasons of fixed elections, affairs, political deceptions, and assassinations, October 5, its seventh and final season begins, and the series ends.

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The story of Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) Washington, DC’s best fixer (based on former press aide and real-life fixer, Judy Smith) comes to an end this season. Olivia has left Olivia Pope and Associates, Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn), her longtime love is no longer president, her enemies have been neutralized, both her parents stopped, and put a female president in the White House. Now, she is the White House Chief of staff, and head of the B613. While nothing good lasts forever, fans know Shonda Rhimes never disappoints, so there is still plenty to look forward to.

“It’s Her World.” Olivia Pope is the Most Powerful Person in the World.

After six seasons of political strategy and deception, Olivia Pope is the most powerful person in the world. No longer a gladiator, she is now White House chief of staff and leader of the covert government agency, B6-13. Seemingly, unstoppable, fans want to know will she still wear the white hat? How will her relationships change? Will all that power corrupt her? In the past, Olivia’s role was to simply solve problems for the powerful. Now she is one of the powerful.

“How does it feel to be the most powerful person in the world?” - Cyrus Beene

Until now, taking care of people and their problems has always been Olivia Pope’s major job and motivation. Millie Grant (Bellamy Young) is now president, but no one knows if Mellie has what it takes to go toe to toe with her new chief of staff. She still doesn’t realize Olivia tricked her into funding B5-13 in last year’s season finale. And what about Olivia and former President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn)? Fitz has left Washington, DC to work on his foundation. Is their relationship over forever? Whatever happens, A world controlled by Olivia Pope will be a strategic game played well.

Madam President

After a troubling political year and almost, and not quite getting our first female president, that dream comes true on Scandal. It’s no secret Scandal creator, Shonda Rhimes wanted a female president, so in Shondaland she makes it so. After Scandal’s sixth season’s heated election, an assassination on President-elect Vargas, Mellie Grant is now President of the United States of America. Getting elected may have been the easy part. Will this dream become a nightmare? The pressure of being the first female president may get to Millie and besides, Olivia may be the real power.

“Mellie. You are going to be President of the United States.” - Olivia Pope

Shondaland’s President is a woman put there by the most powerful person in the world. So, what will a Shonda Rhimes dream world look like? Equal pay, DACA, are all on the table and we can’t wait to see what happens.

Pope Parents On the Loose

Do fans of the show really believe the murdering, assassin Pope parents are really just going away silently? Rowan “Papa” Pope (Joe Morton) is the former leader of B6-13 and a man unafraid to even murder the son of a president. Maya “Mama” Pope (Khandi Alexander) is even worse. Don’t forget she is a terrorist willing to kill thousands of innocent people.

“…get yourself some power! Real Power!” -Rowan “Papa” Pope

Will papa pope’s little girl lose it? Will he try to save her or take his position back? Olivia did threaten to kill him if he tried, but will that stop him? Honestly, as bad as the Popes are we don’t want them to leave. Both Papa and Mama Pope have given audiences some of its most epic scenes and monologues in Scandal political history. Now, that they have proved their love to their little girl will they be given free reign?

Quinn Perkins and Associates

Olivia has handed over Olivia Pope and Associates (OPA) to Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes). Now, head gladiator, Quinn will have her hands full. Not only with her new white hat duties, but she is expecting a baby and just got married. Lucky for her former gladiator Abby Whelan (Darby Stanchfield ) is back and Huck (Guillermo Díaz) remains loyal.

Can Quinn control the very strong-willed Abby Whelan and the sometimes murderous and mentally unstable Huck the way Olivia could? Former White House Chief of Staff, Abby goes back to investigating and gladiating for the crisis management firm. Huck, tech whiz and all-around tough guy, used to kill people for B6-13 until a life at OPA saved him. Both will have to learn how to navigate their new world without the structure and support Olivia used to provide.

“You’re a gladiator in a suit. Do you want to be a gladiator in a suit?” - Harrison Wright

Scandal has always been a show driven by the relationships and interactions between characters. This season those relationships will be tested as each of these characters are put in new trying positions. Abby was Olivia’s right hand when Quinn came in, Now she works for Quinn. Huck has always been motivated by protecting Olivia. Now, that Olivia is in the White House can he be loyal to both Olivia and Quinn?

Washington, D.C. is for Lovers

That fairy tale of “making jam in Vermont” doesn’t seem like it’s in the future for Scandal’s favorite couple. The Olivia and Fitz (Olitz) forbidden love hooked fans the first episode of the very first season. Over the years, like many relationships they have fought, loved, broken up many times and we loved it.

“I wanted you to stay, but not like this.” - Olivia Pope

Their goodbye during last season’s finale was touching and heartwarming until we found out she tricked Fitz into not staying in Washington. Fitz had plans to meet run B6-13 himself, but Olivia talked him out of it, so she could instead. It seems Olivia has abandoned a chance at love for power. But, they have been here before so we can’t really say that it’s over. Love versus power is a battle we can’t wait to see.

Time for One Last Scandal

Saying goodbye to Scandal won’t be easy. Shonda Rhimes has changed Thursday night television forever by creating shows that set the standard for storytelling. Scandal’s fast pace with constant twists and turns has been addictive, but its seventh season promises to be its best yet. The pressure is on, but we bet it’s “Handled.”